Louis Tomlinson Hits No. 1 For The First Time Without His One Direction Bandmates

Years after the breakup of One Direction, four of the five members of the boy band continue to produce solo work – singer Liam Payne passed away in October 2024 – and at the moment, Louis Tomlinson is beginning his next era. The singer’s new single “Lemonade” becomes a top seller in the United Kingdom, as it debuts on multiple lists and climbs on another, helping the pop superstar score his first champion on one tally and his second career win on another as anticipation builds for his upcoming third studio album.

Louis Tomlinson Charts His First Solo No. 1

Tomlinson’s recently-released “Lemonade” leaps from No. 50 to No. 1 on the Official Singles Sales list, which ranks the bestselling tracks across the U.K. via any format, be they digital downloads or physical purchases. “Lemonade” became a quick seller the moment it was available, which helped it debut in the middle of the ranking last frame. Now that a complete tracking period has passed, it’s become the strongest seller in the nation, and Tomlinson scores his first solo No. 1 on the most important sales list in the U.K.

Did Louis Tomlinson’s “Just Hold On” Hit No. 1?

Previously, Tomlinson only missed hitting No. 1 on the Official Singles Sales list by one space with his first appearance on the ranking. “Just Hold On,” a collaboration with Steve Aoki, stalled at No. 2 almost a decade ago. “Back to You,” a collaboration with Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals, peaked at No. 7, as did “Bigger Than Me” back in 2022.

Louis Tomlinson’s “Lemonade” Also Debuts at No. 1

“Lemonade” also manages to dominate another roster across the Atlantic as it opens at No. 1 on the Official Physical Singles list. That tally is comprised only of the top-selling tunes on formats like CD, vinyl, or cassette, while the more general Official Singles Sales list also takes into account digital purchases.

Louis Tomlinson Doubles His Total No. 1s Count

On the physical-only list, Tomlinson has seen three tracks reach the ranking, and all but one of them ruled. “Back to You” hit No. 1 in 2017, while “Bigger Than Me” missed the throne by one spot, peaking at No. 2. Tomlinson doubles his total number of rulers this frame thanks to the quick success of “Lemonade.”

“Lemonade” Becomes a Hit in the U.K.

“Lemonade” also appears on the Official Singles list, the all-encompassing roster that looks at the most consumed songs in the U.K. While sales factor into where a title lands, so too do streams. “Lemonade” doesn’t make a play for the top spot on the Official Singles list, but it begins its time at No. 89.

Louis Tomlinson’s Solo History on the Singles Chart

Throughout his solo career, Tomlinson has now collected six hits on the Official Singles list, two of which — his first two — made it to the top 10. “Just Hold On” with Aoki peaked at No. 2, while follow-up “Back to You” soared to No. 8.

Since then, Tomlinson has only reached the top 40 with “Miss You,” which peaked at No. 39, while “Just Like You” and “Two of Us” didn’t make it to the upper half of the roster. It’s been more than half a decade since Tomlinson scored a new win on the Official Singles chart, as “Two of Us” peaked at No. 64 back in March 2019.

When Will Louis Tomlinson’s New Album Be Released?

“Lemonade” serves as the lead single from Tomlinson’s upcoming third solo album How Did I Get Here? The full-length is expected to be released in mid-January of 2026, and it will mark his first album in more than four years by the time it drops. His most recent effort, Faith in the Future, arrived in November 2022 and became his first No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums list.

One Direction’s No. 1 Bestselling Songs

During the years the singers of One Direction were together — first as a five-piece and then later as a quartet following Zayn’s departure — the boy band scored four No. 1s on the Official Singles list. The group only hit the summit once on the Official Singles Sales ranking with “Drag Me Down,” although several other smashes from the outfit’s discography came close to the peak position.

The boy band, which was formed on The X Factor, performed best on the Official Physical Singles list, where the group racked up half a dozen No. 1s. The only other three tunes from the group that made it to that tally all stalled at No. 2, as everything connected to One Direction became a bestseller in the U.K., at least for a time.